Redwood NP scenic road opens to hikers, bikers, pets

Photo courtesy of Eureka Times Standard.The Newton B. Drury Scenic Parkway in northern Humboldt County, which is compared to the Avenue of the Giants for sheer redwood beauty, is now closed the first Saturday of each month to motorized traffic until May.

Park rangers invite everyone to bike, hike or walk their dog along the ten-mile road, which meanders among some of the most impressive old growth groves in Redwood National & State Parks.

The Bike’n’Hike Days(external site) will provide opportunities for park visitors to experience the parkway without the noise, speed and sound of cars and trucks.

Come explore one of the most beautiful and historic roadways in northern California by foot, bicycle, skateboard, rollerblades, wheelchair or any other non-motorized vehicle.

Dogs on leash are also welcome on the parkway, although they are prohibited on the trails for the safety of park visitors and wildlife. For nearby redwood trails that permit Fido in the forest, see the Redwoods.info website(external site).

The Drury Parkway is a segment of the historic Redwood Highway parallel to Highway 101, 45 miles north of the coastal town of Eureka.

Photo courtesy of Jeremy Berg.It offers something for riders of all levels, from families with kids looking for a safe and easy two-mile loop ride to Big Tree, to athletic cyclists wishing to do the entire parkway roundtrip.

Much of the southern end of the parkway is flat, while the hills of the northern portion require a bit more effort.

Parking is available at the southern entrance to the parkway in designated spaces adjacent to Elk Prairie, in Prairie Creek Redwoods State Park, the southernmost unit of Redwood National & State Parks.

The monthly closures will likely continue after the 2017 summer as well. Stay tuned for more.

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This week we celebrate our love of books and our love of reading! Some of my fondest memories have been relaxing in a beautiful place with a great book and getting so engulfed in the story that hours went by in the blink of an eye.